By SCM Reporter
LOKOJA — A Federal High Court sitting in Lokoja, Kogi State, has dealt a severe blow to the legal status of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), setting aside its earlier judgment that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the association as a political party.
The presiding judge, Justice Isah Dashen, ruled on Friday that the previous judgment was constitutionally defective because it was delivered without hearing from all interested and necessary parties whose rights were directly affected by the case.
The development followed a dramatic intervention by the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which approached the court alleging that the NDC had built its registration claims upon a political logo that originally belonged to the PMP.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Dashen upheld the PMP’s application, stating that the omission of an interested party rendered the earlier judicial process a nullity. He observed that material facts were suppressed during the initial proceedings, which justified the decision to completely vacate the judgment.
Consequently, the court ordered all involved entities to return to the status quo occupied before the initial judgment was delivered on December 10, 2025.
Justice Dashen further directed the original claimants to join all necessary parties to ensure that the dispute over the party’s symbols and registration is completely and effectively determined.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the court session, counsel to the Peace Movement Party, C.S. Ekeocha, explained that his client was forced to approach the court after discovering that the NDC’s registration drive utilized a logo the PMP had already officially submitted to INEC long before the legal fireworks began.
“The court agreed with us that the applicant’s rights had been severely breached,” Ekeocha said. “With this ruling, the court has ordered all parties to return to the positions they held prior to the December 10, 2025 judgment.”
Explaining the immediate political implications of the fresh order, Ekeocha clarified that every structural stride taken by INEC to accommodate the NDC based on the now-vacated judgment must be rolled back.
“The legal reality today is that the official recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s official database, and any planned appearance on ballot papers arising from that previous judgment must be completely withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit,” Ekeocha added.
He, however, noted that the legal battle is far from over, as the matter will now be heard afresh from the beginning.
“The matter has not been permanently thrown out. The court merely set aside its previous decision and directed that the party whose interests were compromised be properly joined so that all sides can be fairly heard before a new decision is reached,” the defense counsel concluded.
The legal battle stems from intense political maneuvers ahead of the upcoming 2027 general elections. Following a political realignment, INEC had formally recorded the NDC as a registered political party earlier this year.
The electoral umpire had premised its decision on a mandatory court order issued by the Federal High Court in Lokoja under Suit No. FHC/LKJ/CS/49/2025, instituted by Takori Mohammed Sanni and others against INEC.
The judicial compulsion had drawn heavy criticism from other political associations, many of whom questioned the fast-tracked nature of the NDC’s recognition. Stakeholders in the political space had raised concerns over how the association secured its registration certificate via a court order, allegedly skipping parts of the administrative and rigorous verification processes outlined by INEC guidelines.
Compounding the controversy is the heavyweight political backing behind the NDC.
The party, which split from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following a mass defection of lawmakers, has fast become a formidable third-force alliance. It currently boasts a significant presence in the National Assembly and has recently served as a political rallying point for prominent opposition figures.
With the Federal High Court ordering the suit to commence entirely afresh, INEC is now expected to temporarily delist the NDC from its roster of recognized political entities.
The fresh trial will require the NDC to defend the legitimacy of its identity and contested logo against the rival claims of the Peace Movement Party before it can hope to regain its spot on the ballot for the 2027 polls.